ZAMBOANGA CITY – Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Ronaldo Puno has allocated to the city fire department here a P9.7-million fire truck to reciprocate for the city government’s unrelenting support and assistance to public safety.

City Mayor Celso Lobregat on Thursday formally turned over the 1,000-gallon fire truck to the City Fire District under Supt. James Ramirez stressing it will help improve emergency response efforts of the fire department here.

Lobregat also turned over to Ramirez two boxes of imported fire suits and boots which were donated by the members of the Sons and Daughters of Philippine Veterans Association.

He also turned over a refurbished fire truck donated by the Chiong family to the Barangay Council of Talisayan.

“This is clearly a manifestation of the strong partnership between the DILG, the city government, the private sector and the barangay sector,” Lobregat said.

“Last year, when Secretary Puno came here, he acknowledged the assistance that the city government is giving not only to the police but also to the fire department and jail bureau,” the mayor said.

“He promised that the DILG will reciprocate these gestures of cooperation and that one fire truck will be allocated for Zamboanga City, and so now we are turning over the fire truck to your department here,” the mayor told Ramirez.

For his part, Ramirez also expressed appreciation to Lobregat and the city government for the unrelenting support to the fire department.

The newest fire truck will augment the 20-fleet of fire vehicles of the City Fire District, he said.

“This is very timely because since the start of the year, we have noted an increase in fire incidents specially bush fires because of the onset of the dry season,” he added.

“I am here to show my gratitude. I cannot let these contributions of the city government remain unnoticed. It is just proper for us in the DILG to show appreciation and overall congratulations and thanks for everything that Zamboanga has done,” Puno said during his recent visit here.

Lobregat also thanked the Aboitiz Transport Corporation for the free cargo freight for the DILG-acquired fire truck’s transport from Manila to this city.